Chris Bosh wants to play basketball. It’s unclear if he’ll be cleared by the Miami Heat to do so. The situation has led to a rift between the two sides that, according to reports, is not going away.
“We’re told the Bosh camp remains frustrated with the Heat’s handling of his situation, and that’s part of the reason Bosh and wife Adrienne have gone on a social media blitz this week,” per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. “As one NBA official said, Bosh wants the public to know he wants to play amid the Heat’s silence…The Heat has declined to say if Bosh will be cleared – Bosh has been awaiting word himself – but the team disputes any notion that it is trying to keep him off the court to remove his salary from the cap.”
Bosh has three years remaining on his contract. Per Spotrac, he’s owed $23.7 million in 2016-17, $25.2 million in 2017-18, and $26.8 million in 2018-19.
He has had each of the last two seasons significantly shortened with blood clot issues. Despite the serious nature of blood clots — which can be fatal — Jackson also detailed why it will be hard for the Heat to get his money off of their books.
“Bosh disputes any notion that he cannot play and –– barring another blood clot –– he, in tandem with the players association, likely will oppose use of any doctors who say he cannot play and presumably will try to find a doctor who will say he can. And the process might not even get to that point,” Jackson said.
For a contract to be voided, an agreed upon doctor must state the injury is either a career-ender or severe enough to put the player at risk.
This will certainly be a situation to follow in the weeks leading up to the season and possibly throughout the next three years. Bosh has been with Miami since the 2010-11 season and is the only Heat player left with the team from the “Big Three” era.